Graduate Assistantship

The CWES Graduate Assistantship is a unique opportunity for those interested in gaining teaching, mentoring and supervisory experience in the environmental education field while pursuing a Masters in Environmental Education and Interpretation. The assistantship is a two-year commitment. The next graduate assistantship will begin in May of 2017. If you are interested, please contact Tom Quinn, Program Manager, at 715-346-2705.

Where they are now...

Our alumni have gone on to do wonderful things in the field of Environmental Education and Interpretation. Here are some examples from our graduate students:

Then: Jordan King was a graduate student from 2013-2015. Before that he had worked three summers as a Counselor/Naturalist at CWES as well. His thesis concerned Environmental Literacy in Environmentally Themed Higher Education Courses, as he worked with students and universities across the state.

Now: After leaving CWES, Jordan spent a summer as an Ecological Intern at the Sachamama Center for Biocultural Regeneration in Lamas, Peru, promoting sustainable agriculture in communities and schools in the High Amazon region. Jordan then worked his way back to CWES and is serving as the Interim Program Manager, continuing his commitment to outdoor education and youth programming.

Then: Meagan Leatherbury (third from left) was a graduate student from 2009-2011. The topic of her thesis was connecting field trip learning to classroom learning.

Now: After leaving CWES, Meagan worked with a dance company, Dance Exchange, in Takoma Park, Maryland as their Naturalist on a "Moving Field Guide" project funded by the US Forest Service. In September of the year she graduated, she was hired by the Robinson Nature Center - a LEED-Platinum environmental education center with a planetarium - to be their Program Manager. She lives outside of Baltimore, Maryland where she enjoys exploring Maryland's park, as well as "couch time" with her husband and 13 year old rescue "Beag-hua-hua". There are so many favorite memories of CWES including kayaking on the lake, teaching high school students how to rule the world (Natural Resource Role Play!), campfire programs, WAEE conferences, and summer camp.

Then: Elena (Krieger) Morgan was a graduate student from 2008-2010. Her thesis investigated the short and medium term effects of summer camps that include environmentally focused activities. She loved all of the perks that came with living at CWES, especially kayaking on Sunset Lake.

Now: Since graduating from UWSP, Elena has worked as an environmental educator at Chicago's Adler Planetarium, the Boys' Club of New York, and a county park in New Jersey. She is currently the Director of Outdoor Programs and Day Camp for the Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey. She is grateful for how her time at CWES and UWSP prepared her for each of these positions. She spends her free time discovering the natural beauty that the East Coast has to offer through hiking, backpacking, kayaking, and nature photography.

Then: Jennifer Webster (first from the left) was a graduate student from
2006-2008. The topic of her thesis was The Creation and Evolution of a
Natural History Website as a resource for University Practicum Students at the
Central Wisconsin Environmental Station. (Photos of amazing graduate students
birding together or graduating).

Now: After leaving CWES, Jenni worked as a naturalist for
Buchanan County Conservation in Iowa. She is now an interpretive naturalist for
the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources at Interstate State Park.
She lives in Saint Croix Falls where she enjoys exploring the river valley by
foot, in a kayak, or on a pair of snowshoes. She thoroughly enjoyed her
experience at CWES and gained invaluable experience. The highlight of her time
at CWES was working with the incredible staff.

Then: Karla Lockman was a graduate student from 2004-2006. The
topic of her thesis was the Development and Implementation of an online course
for teachers called Teaching About the Environment Outdoors.

Now: After graduating from UW-SP Karla was an Associate Lecturer
at UW-Fond du Lac teaching environmental science and biology. She then obtained
her teaching license and taught AP Environmental Science and Biology at the
Stevens Point Area Senior High. She currently enjoys her career as Program
Leader at the Boston School Forest in the Stevens Point Area School
District. She lives in Stevens Point with her husband and two kids where they
love raising their free-range chickens, gardening, and fishing. ​